Interview: Aeox, ES01 Song Challenge winner!

He just won Ekssperimental Sound Studio’s ES01 Song Challenge: Aeox is a board regular and a frequent contributor, but we don’t know much about him. So we took the opportunity to grill him…

 

RT – How long have you been making music, and more specifically, with Reason?

Aeox – I started my journey about 5 years ago at the age of 19 when I began learning how to DJ. Naturally, I began making mashups of different songs together within the confinement of my DJ program. I’m sure you can imagine how limiting it was to put together mashups with a DJ program! This road block is what got me into using FL Studio to construct these mashups. Before I knew it I was cutting, rearranging, and learning the extreme basics of sound design and mixing.

Fast forward a year or so, I grew tired of making mashups as it was rather unfullfilling to me, which is what intrigued me to learn how to make my own music. Reason is something that didn’t come until later down the road. I purchased Reason on 2/6/2017 after falling in love during the trial period. So that makes it just over a year that I’ve been using the program.

 

RT – What’s your current setup?

Aeox – I work with…

• Reason 9.5
• Dual Computer Monitors
• M-Audio Keystation Mini 32
• Behringer UMC404HD Audio Interface
• Sennheiser HD600 Headphones
• Various guitar pedals and guitar amps that I like to run synths through

 

RT – Are you making music professionally or as an amateur?

Aeox – Although I’d like to think of myself as a professional, currently my method of acquiring compensation for my services can be too inconsistent, especially as of late. Therefore, I’d consider myself to be an amateur.

RT – Your song was a ballsy choice: the intro is half the song, followed by a somewhat sad, melancholic development. You didn’t try to go Synthwave or even retro, but it paid off. What was the impulse to compose it this way?

Aeox – Sometimes when I’m creating music, I don’t think about song structure so much. Rather, I just go with the flow and see where I end up. I suppose this track could have ended up being 5 minutes long with a “proper” structure and all, but I really wanted to keep the track as close to 2 minutes as possible while making those 2 minutes sound good to me and potentially leave the listener wanting more.

I wanted to showcase the sound of the synth with simple sounds, without too many layers and commotion. Initially I did ponder going the Synthwave/retro route. Though, I figured that many other entries would take this path so I decided against it. And let’s face it, I don’t know how to make Synthwave anyway 🙂

 

RT – You seem to have clicked immediately with ES01. Did you ever try a real Yamaha CS01? More generally, have you always been a DAW musician, or did you start with actual hardware?

Aeox – Definitely clicked immediately! All I did was load up the synth and start playing chords with a default sawtooth wave and I knew right then, it was a nice sounding synth! As for a real Yamaha CS01, can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of trying one. I’ve always been a DAW musician. Although, I did play guitar for a few years at the age of 12. Which I’d really like to get back into!

The winning song…

 

RT – I was planning to publish the link to your SoundCloud (I will anyway), but there’s just one song! You’re good, you’ve even been selected as a finalist in our recent Winter Challenge, why not share your creations?

Aeox – I guess it’s because I’m very critical of anything I do. I was even having some serious doubts about my entry for the ES01 challenge. The more I listen to my own creations, the more I dislike them. This generally leads me to delete most of anything I post on my Soundcloud.

 

RT – So, here’s a tip to readers: subscribe to Aeox’s channel, and listen as soon as you get the notifications! 😉 Are you drawn to a musical genre in particular?

Aeox – No, not really 😛 Anything electronic that has good a chord progression/melody, combined with awesome sound design, tone, rhythm and a good mix. Basically, most of the stuff you’d hear on the mau5trap label, but not limited to.

 

RT – Is there a type of synths that you prefer? Additive, subtractive, sampling, mangling?

Aeox – To be honest, I can’t say I’ve experimented much outside of subtractive synthesis. I’m missing out, aren’t I? 😛

 

RT – Which is your absolute favorite synth? And your favorite effect device?

Aeox – My absolute favorite synth hands down would have to be eXpanse. It’s just so versatile and sounds great. As for effects, hmm, that’s a tougher one. I’m going to say RE-2A, I use it on almost every mix channel and on the master!

 

RT – What would you like most in the next version of Reason?

Aeox – I’d like to see Group/folder tracks, Bezier curves for automation, Performance and a complete new set of up-to-date native effects!

 

RT – Thanks Aeox, and congrats on winning this challenge!

Check Aeox’s SoundCloud channel for exclusive – and elusive – new songs:

 

 

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